The Legislative Power.
5. This is lodged in " The General Assembly of Maryland," composed of two branches : a senate and a housi3 of delegates.
The Senate is emnposed of members elected, one from each county (the oity of Baltimore also elect ing one), for the term of four years. One-half of the senate is eleoted every two years. A senator must he twenty-five years old, a citizen of the United States, have resided three years next before election in the state, and the last year thereof in the county or city from which he is elected.
The House of Delegates consists of members eleoted from the various counties. They are appor tioned according to population; but the smallest county is not to have less than two, the eity of Baltimore is to have four more than the largest, and the whole number is never to exceed eighty. A delegate mast he twenty-one years of age, and otherwise possess the same qualifications as a senator.
The general assembly meets the first Wednesday in January every even year, and the session closes the teuth of Match. It can grant no act of incor poration which may not he repealed. It cannot authorize taking private property without first paying or tendering a just compensation to the owner.
The Executive Power.
6. The Governor is elected every fourth year from 1853, for the term of four years, commencing on the second Wednesday in January next atter his election. The state is divided into three districts, from each of which the governor must be elected successively. He must be thirty years old, have been for five years a resident of the state and three years of tbe district from which he is elected. The governor is commander of the land and naval forces; appoints, with the consent of the senate, all mili tary officers, and all civil officers whose appointment is not otherwise provided for; in case of the vacancy of any office during the recess of the sen ate, he is to appoint a person to said office, to hold until the end of the next session of the legislature; may suspend or arrest any military officer for any military offence and may remove any civil officer appointed by the governor; may convene the legis lature or the senate alone; has power to grant re prieves and pardons, but before granting a voile pro sequi, or pardon, must give notice of the application, and of the day on or after which his decision Will he given. When required, he is to report to either
branch of the legislature the reasons which influ enced his decision. He may not appoint to an office a person who has been rejected by the senate. He must reside at Annapolis. If a vacancy occurs in the office of governor, the legislature, if in session, appoints a substitute; and if not in session, the president of the senate shall act as governor; and if there is no such president, the speaker of the house is to act.
A Secretory of State is appointed by the governor, with the advice of the senate.
A Treasurer is elected by the house of delegates every second year.
The Judicial Power.
1%. The Court of Appeals consists of one chief and four associate judges, elected, one from each of the four districts into which the state is divided, by the people of the district, for ten years. It has appellate jurisdiction only.
The Circuit Court consists of seven judges, elected one in each of the seven districts into which the counties of the state are arranged. Each judge holds the court in his own circuit, and has full civil and oriminal jurisdiction.
An Orphans' C01121 exists in each county, and in the city of Baltimore, composed of three judges, elected for the term of four years lay the people of the county.
The City of Baltimore constitutes a judicial cir ouit, and has four courts, the judges of which are elected for ten years.
The superior court has civil jurisdiction in all equity oases, and in common-law cases involving more than five hundred dollars.
The circuit court has an equity jurisdiction con current with the superior court.
The court of common pleas has civil jurisdiction in all cases where the debt or amount of damages claimed is over one hundred dollars and under five hundred dollars.
The oriminal oourt haa jurisdiction of all erimes and offences committed in the city.
Commissioners of Public Works ere eleeted, one in each of four districts into which the state is divided for this purpose, by the voters of the dis trict, for the term of four years. A commissioner of the land office is elected for six year& He is clerk and jndge of the land office. The treasurer is elected by the house of delegatea every second year. The comptroller, shertys, county CO1)17111.8 aiuners, justices of the peace, eonatabtee, etc., are elected every second year.